Urgent mission: Monster surf threatens Sydney beach icon

Huge swells have smashed a popular Sydney beach and forced a desperate midnight rescue mission.

A run of massive swells has badly eaten into Sydney’s southern beaches and forced one local council into a night-time removal of a crucial lookout.

The North Cronulla lifeguard tower has been lifted from its precarious perch on the edge of a severely compromised piece of beach, made unstable by particularly hefty coastal waters over the weekend.

A crane contracted by Sutherland Shire Council lifted the structure away from the edge of a steep drop on Monday night as a large crowd watched on.

The move was accompanied by a warning from council that caution – and perhaps alternate paths – would be required if residents and visitors had designs on accessing Bate Bay beaches following weeks of rough weather.

A crane was rushed in to remove the North Cronulla lifeguard tower, after it was judged to be at risk of toppling into the sea after wild weather. Picture: Supplied

“Council continues to assess the damage caused to the North Cronulla sea wall, and a plan of works is being developed to undertake urgent reinforcement of the sea wall, which is expected to commence within days,” a council spokeswoman said.

Access to the adjacent section of The Esplanade will be restricted while works are being undertaken.

A number of beach access tracks also remain closed in the interests of public safety.

Ocean swells had eased somewhat by Wednesday but council said it would continue to monitor weather and surf conditions to assess when works to replenish sand along the most frequented Bate Bay beaches can be conducted.

Council also told people it would maintain usual surveillance of its beaches.

The North Cronulla Surf Club Tower has been removed after teetering on the edge of a steep fall due to erosion of the beach in heavy surf. Picture: 7News

Recent rain and huge swells have left many Sydney beaches badly eroded and with exposed rocks, including at Coogee and Maroubra. Picture: 7News

“Sutherland Shire Council wishes to reassure beachgoers that the removal of this tower will not undermine beach safety,” a council spokeswoman said.

“Council lifeguards will maintain the same level of visual surveillance as would ordinarily be provided during winter months from the Coastalwatch surf cameras installed along Council patrolled beaches.”

Recent rain and huge swells have left many Sydney beaches badly eroded and with exposed rocks, including at Coogee and Maroubra.

The Bureau of Meteorology says a high currently lies over the Great Australian Bight, and will work with a broad area of low pressure off the NSW coast to increase southerly winds across coastal waters on Wednesday and into Thursday.

A gale warning is in place for large parts of the NSW coast for Wednesday and Thursday, including Sydney and the Illawarra regions.

Seas of 1 to 2 metres were expected on Wednesday morning, increasing to 2 to 3 metres during the afternoon.

The swell is expected to intensify on Thursday with seas of 2.5 to 4 metres.